Author Topic: To Benedryl or Not? (Read 7239 times)

bwallace23350 · « **on:** May 29, 2016, 09:57:23 pm »

I took 2 stings today and did not benedryl because someone told me it could mask the onset of anaphylaxis. I wait 30 minutes to take medicine and boy does it itch and hurt until then. How do you treat your stings?

iddee · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2016, 10:25:20 pm »

I took 3 on the face today. I laugh at them. Told them they were getting slow. My norm is 5 plus on a stormy day.

flyboy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2016, 10:45:48 pm »

Put Rescue Remedy on it. Put it on a few times after the sting and no discomfort. Prepare it like this. Take a one ounce dropper bottle, put 4 drops of the RR in it and then fill the rest up with water. Then just drop the mixture on one drop at a time to the sting (or actually any kind of wound. Then a few minutes later put another drop on it. Do that a few times and the sting will still be visible but will not hurt.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2016, 11:37:26 pm »

When I started beekeeping, I used Benedryl cream and hydrocortisone cream. I think it helped my body to not react to the stings.
If you think you might have a reaction to the stings, do not delay taking the Benedryl.
I had a severe reaction to Gassex. The Benedryl gave me time to get to the hospital. I also had a young boy have a severe reaction to fire ant bites. I offered his mother Benedryl and she gave it to him. It took 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and it was severe but he survived.
Jim

tjc1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2016, 11:46:32 pm »

I'm not allergic, but I am sensitive to stings. Sometimes no more than the usual soreness and itching, but on a couple of occasions swelling of the hand then the forearm, then around the elbow and... was given prednisone for that one. SO to avoid that happening, I keep a bottle of children's (liquid, so faster acting) benedryl on hand and I take it asap after a sting. 4 teaspoons is the usual adult dosage equivalent. I hate taking it because it really knocks me for a loop (so drowsy I have to lie down and sleep for a while after), but I haven't had any of those kinds of reactions since using it.

divemaster1963 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2016, 12:40:30 am »

I take a benadryl tab before doing removals. More for the poison ivy dust in the nose. Stings don't bother me first hurt the go away in 20 min. Unless several in same spot the alittle sore for few hours. But I like to get stung always every 2-3 weeks for the rumatiod in my shoulder.

John

yes2matt · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2016, 06:21:55 am »

Quote from: tjc1 on May 29, 2016, 11:46:32 pm

I'm not allergic, but I am sensitive to stings. Sometimes no more than the usual soreness and itching, but on a couple of occasions swelling of the hand then the forearm, then around the elbow and... was given prednisone for that one. SO to avoid that happening, I keep a bottle of children's (liquid, so faster acting) benedryl on hand and I take it asap after a sting. 4 teaspoons is the usual adult dosage equivalent. I hate taking it because it really knocks me for a loop (so drowsy I have to lie down and sleep for a while after), but I haven't had any of those kinds of reactions since using it.

I wonder if it matters where you take the sting, in relation to nerve centers and lymph channels etc.

I got stung on the back of my left hand, the "meaty part" inside the thumb, and just like you describe I eventually had swelling all the way to my elbow; I felt that sting for three days. The next day I got stung on my right hand on the outside of the thumb. It itched for a day.

Wombat2 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2016, 07:59:50 am »

As a Pharmacy Student many years ago we did a prac class on the "Histamine Response" Basically we scratched the skin with a pin and measured the time and size of the welt that developed. We then repeated with different people taking /using various medications to see what difference there was from nil treatment.

The best result was application of an anti-histamine cream immediately (unfortunately these are no longer permitted in Australia - but I make my own) and take an oral anti-histamine within 30 minutes - sedating ones are more effective than non-sedating( ie Benadryl, Phenergan as opposed to Tagamet, Zyrtec)

My 2 cents worth.

JackM · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2016, 09:47:30 am »

HIstamine is a body response to an external insult OR an allergen. Benadryl is an ANTIhistamine, which means it counteracts histamine. The sooner you get it in your system the sooner it can work against the histamine and reduce the body's reaction to the HISTAMINE, not the insult.

Using that medical explanation, my belief is that the sooner you get it on the better. I am allergic to bee stings, and have to be very careful. If I get a sting and can get the benadryl onboard in 5 minutes or less, I have a less severe reaction. Best to avoid it all and really suit up.

Additionally some folks use liquid benadryl. Myself I take 100 mg as soon as I can, and put on topical benadryl and topical Vagisil (better anesthesia effect).

So the facts are out there now, between what the pharmacist said and this you should be able to make a decision.

little john · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2016, 11:23:41 am »

Quote from: yes2matt on May 30, 2016, 06:21:55 am

I wonder if it matters where you take the sting, in relation to nerve centers and lymph channels etc.

Certainly does for me.

On the feet or legs - absolutely nothing - I get more of a reaction from a stinging nettle.

Head and face, not too bad - slight swelling for 24hrs, but that's about all.

But hands and arms - they swell-up like balloons, and still itch even after all these years. In the early days the itching used to drive me crazy, and keep me awake at night - but the best tip I ever got was NOT to use ice or cold water - quite the opposite - a wet flannel, as hot as you can stand it applied to the swelling. Only if you're not allergic, of course ...
LJ

tjc1 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2016, 11:41:19 am »

Quote from: yes2matt on May 30, 2016, 06:21:55 am

I wonder if it matters where you take the sting, in relation to nerve centers and lymph channels etc.

I got stung on the back of my left hand, the "meaty part" inside the thumb, and just like you describe I eventually had swelling all the way to my elbow; I felt that sting for three days. The next day I got stung on my right hand on the outside of the thumb. It itched for a day.

Yes, this is very similar to my responses, as with Little John, though my knee did swell up pretty god once. Top of the head, just a hard itchy bump. I don't want to find out about the face - as a kid I took a wasp sting between the eyes and my eyes swelled shut for a couple of days.

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2016, 03:42:27 pm »

The face for eme was the worst place to take a sting so far. Had bad swelling there. The hand has swollen when it gets popped but not like the face. I have not taken one really on the body as I usually wear my ultra breeze but the face was when I was in shorts and that was it.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2016, 04:08:42 pm »

I have taken at least 6 stings between the eyes, another 4 inside my nose, several on the checks and lots on my ears. If that had happened my first year they would have been really bad but for the most part, after 5 minutes, I hardly can tell where I got stung.
Jim

PhilK · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2016, 08:00:24 pm »

Quote from: Wombat2 on May 30, 2016, 07:59:50 am

...The best result was application of an anti-histamine cream immediately (unfortunately these are no longer permitted in Australia - but I make my own) ...

Any recipes for us there, Wombat? When I get stung on my hands they swell like crazy and it's a couple of days of major discomfort.

yes2matt · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2016, 10:39:30 pm »

Quote from: PhilK on May 30, 2016, 08:00:24 pm

Quote from: Wombat2 on May 30, 2016, 07:59:50 am
...The best result was application of an anti-histamine cream immediately (unfortunately these are no longer permitted in Australia - but I make my own) ...
Any recipes for us there, Wombat? When I get stung on my hands they swell like crazy and it's a couple of days of major discomfort.

Ditto that request, and I think I'll add some liquid Benadryl to my workbox. This venom talk gets me nervous.

GSF · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2016, 04:25:14 pm »

My first year keeping bees I had swelling and itching. Now almost nothing. Go to Wal Mart and get some "Prid". Comes in a little round (about the size of a quarter) container. When you get stung rub it on there. It supposedly draws out the venom. I say it does good.

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2016, 05:05:25 pm »

I will get some thanks.

KeyLargoBees · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2016, 05:59:20 pm »

I took 14 stings to my right hand on Sunday.....trying to beat a thunderstorm and get a swarm out of a tree....big chunk missed the bucket pole as I shook it and since I was in a hurry I hadn't gloveed up and a huge glob landed on my right hand....I guess Im a beekeeper now because it hurt and swelled a little but I kept going and was all better on Monday. Suits and veils are all well and good but they don't combat carelessness, stupidity, or getting in a hurry.....just saying

tjc1 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:03:00 pm »

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on May 31, 2016, 05:59:20 pm

Suits and veils are all well and good but they don't combat carelessness, stupidity, or getting in a hurry.....just saying

Well... they don't if you don't put them on!

cao · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2016, 12:40:15 am »

I know this thread is about Benedryl, but as far as the immediate pain of the sting I crush some leaves from english plantain and rub it on the area stung. It stops the pain and I think it helps reduce the swelling too.